The heart will beat about 115,000 times each day. The human heart weighs less than 1 pound. The average heart is the size of a fist in an adult. The main purpose of the heart is to keep blood that’s full of oxygen racing throughout your body. The heart keeps the body alive. However, the heart is more than a pump— it actually sends messages to the brain. The heart reacts to emotions. The heart communicates emotions. The heart benefits from emotions. But where is your heart?
Behind Bars?
Protection. A word that signifies safety; control… leaves us with, “What if?”
Sleeve?
Vulnerable. A word that signifies transparency; openness… leaves us with, “How come?”
In Pieces?
Broken. A word that signifies sadness; negativity… leaves us with, “Why?”
Where our heart is located relies on our past experiences. We all have a different story to tell that has led us to the now… the present. Our past is etched into us and affects us: whether positively or negatively. It is a part of our being; from the choices, we make to the people we surround ourselves with. We must embrace the past and move on.
Where is your heart?
My heart has been in all of the locations.
- Behind Bars from the experience of a nonexistent father
- On My Sleeve from the experience of school and longing to be liked
- In Pieces from the experience of not feeling supported in a classroom
My heart now… Not behind bars! Not on my sleeve! Not in pieces! It is whole. It is beating. It is communicating. IT IS EVERYWHERE. It is a mission to leave my heart wherever I may go or be: through action, through words, through choices. My heart is in a cycle… given, replenished, given, replenished, given…
Our Kiddos
Think about the children that walk into our schools, our classrooms every day. Where are their hearts? What experiences have shaped them thus far? Did you notice… I said, “thus far?” Yes. You have the opportunity to be an integral part of where that child’s heart is located; how that child makes choices, communicates with others, and reacts to situations. It’s a cumbersome job, but it is the difference between a 9-5 job and being an EDUCATOR. Be a role model. Be a mentor. Show them your passion. Let them feel your emotions. We want our kiddos to leave their heart in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, in our community… EVERYWHERE!
Jamie Chenault 